Monitoring the Heterogeneously Catalyzed Conversion of Quadricyclane to Norbornadiene by Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract
The utility of fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy for monitoring a heterogeneous catalysis reaction has been examined. The conversion of quadricyclane to norbornadiene in the presence of CuSO4 in chloroform has been followed by an automated procedure. Concentrations of both species have been measured at 5-min intervals over a period of several hours with the use of a solvent line as an internal standard. The nondestructive procedure is shown to be easily implemented. Limits of detection are about 0.003 M.